What is the purpose of Azure AD in the context of M365, and how does it differ from traditional Active Directory?

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is Microsoft's cloud-based identity and access management service, which helps your employees sign in and access resources. In the context of Microsoft 365 (M365), Azure AD is used to authenticate and authorize users. It allows users to access both external resources (like Microsoft 365, the Azure portal, and thousands of other SaaS applications) and internal resources (like apps on your corporate network and intranet).

The main differences between Azure AD and traditional Active Directory (AD) are:

1. Deployment: Traditional AD is deployed on-premises, meaning you need to maintain your own servers, whereas Azure AD is cloud-based and maintained by Microsoft.

2. Accessibility: Azure AD can be accessed from anywhere, anytime, and on any device because it's based in the cloud. Traditional AD requires a VPN for remote access.

3. Scalability: Azure AD can easily scale up or down based on your business needs because it's a cloud service. Scaling with traditional AD requires more manual effort.

4. Features: Azure AD includes features that are not available in traditional AD, such as conditional access, identity protection, and integration with thousands of SaaS applications.

5. Management: Azure AD provides a more simplified management experience through the Azure portal, whereas traditional AD requires more complex management through tools like Active Directory Users and Computers (ADUC) or Active Directory Administrative Center.

In summary, while both Azure AD and traditional AD provide identity and access management, Azure AD offers more features and flexibility because it's a cloud-based service.